By Our Correspondent
The Nigeria Police Force has issued a directive ordering all officers attached to several high-profile political figures and former government officials to immediately return to their respective bases. The order affects security personnel assigned to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, former First Lady Aisha Buhari, and 17 other VIPs.
According to internal communications circulating within the Police Mobile Force, affected officers were instructed to report back by Thursday afternoon. The directive reportedly stems from a recent security policy review aimed at redeploying police personnel to core operational duties nationwide.
The move aligns with a broader strategy by the federal government to address rising insecurity by reallocating manpower from VIP protection to community policing, patrols, and rural security operations. This shift comes amid intensified public pressure on authorities to respond more effectively to incidents of banditry, kidnappings, and violent crime.
Although the policy has generated public interest and raised questions among political observers, police authorities maintain that the withdrawal is neither punitive nor politically motivated. Instead, it is part of an ongoing effort to improve overall national security readiness.
As the redeployment takes effect, VIPs seeking continued personal protection are expected to rely more heavily on alternative government security outfits, including the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
